Hospital marks recovery of cancer patients

Dubai, March 29, 2012

The Dubai Hospital recently held an event to mark the recovery of 450 cancer patients aged 2 to 22 years.

Hussain Abdul Rehman, medical director of Dubai Hospital said: “This is a tough battle and each of these patients and their family members have shown resolve and strength to overcome this disease.”

“In terms of the treatment provided, at the DHA we ensure that we provide patients with high quality healthcare services as well as physiological and social support and the oncology unit at Dubai Hospital is dedicated to provide excellent levels of oncological treatment to patients to help them combat all forms of cancer.”

Dr Abdulrahman Al Jassmi, consultant pediatrician, head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Dubai Hospital said the unit has provided all the 450 cured patients with different forms of treatment including chemotherapy, surgical interventions and radiotherapy in association with other hospitals.

“These patients are completely cured from the disease and they no longer need any medical follow-ups,” he said.

He explained that 20 per cent of these patients received bone marrow transplant outside the country. “We followed up these cases for 5 to 10 years and now they no longer need to visit us regularly for any further follow-ups.”

Dr Al Jassmi said the hospital has been receiving referral cases from different Emirates and abroad. Most of these cases are specifically related to diagnosis of different types of cancer in children including leukemia.

Dr Al Jassmi said that since 1990 the hospital has diagnosed 750 cases of cancer, 40 per cent of these cases were leukemia. Of the cases of leukemia, 80 per cent were cured.

The hospital receives more than 50 per cent of all cases of childhood cancer in the country, he added.

George Morcos, general manager of Sanofi Gulf, a healthcare leader, congratulated the cancer survivors and their families for their recovery.

He added: “Sanofi is building on a heritage of more than 50 years of experience helping patients and healthcare professionals in the field of cancer care. Sanofi’s vision is to target cancer on all fronts by working on most of the mechanisms of action involved in the development, growth and spread of cancer.” – TradeArabia News Service